Apparatus for transmitting code impulse combinations



Oct. 11, 1927. WALLACE APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING CODE IMPULSE COMBINATIONS Filed Nov. 18 1926 ml' P Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES I 1,645,122 PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT A. WALLACE, OF EDGEWOOD BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING CODE IMPULSE COMBINATIONS.

Application filed November 18, 1926. Serial No. 149,151.

My invention relates to apparatus for transmitting code impulse combinations.

Apparatus embodying my invention is particularly adapted for. though in no way limited to, supplying the trackway of a railway with code impulse combinations which may be used to control trackway signals or train carried governing mechanism or both.

I will describe one form of apparatus em- 1 bodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a view, partly diagrammatic and partly in section, showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a stretch of railway track over which traflic normally moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. The railway is divided into sections by means of insulated joints 2, only one complete section D-E being shown in the drawing.

The track section D-E is at times supplied with code impulse combinations by a transmitter which is designated in general by the reference character K The immediate source of current is the secondary 5 of a transformer T, the primary 4 of which 1 is constantly supplied with current from a suitable source, here shown asan alternator X. .For the purpose of interrupting the supply-of alternating current to the track rails for producing code impulses separated by varying time intervals I include in the circuit between the secondary 5 of transformer T and the track rails 1 and 1" a plurality (here shown as two) of movable conducting balls 8 and 9. These balls are composed of hardened material and are preferably of non-corrosive material such as stainless steel. Each of the balls is provided with means for projecting it upward to break the circuit to the track rails, and also with means for delaying its return to again close this circuit.

Referring particularly to ball 8, this ball is provided with a solenoid magnet M having a movable magnetic core 13, a stationary magnetic core 14 and a winding 29. The core 13 has a hardened center pin 13 which extends upward beyond the core 13. and when raised upwardly through a sufficient distance it engages a movable pin 15 within V cup section the core 14. The pin 15 is enlarged at its upper end sufliciently to prevent it from falling through the opening in core 14 and this enlargement engages the end 32 of a lever 30 to control a contact 25. Lever 30 is pivoted at 31, and contact 25 is biased to the open position by means of a spring 33. The enlarged surface of pin 15 also engages the lower side of the ball 8 when this ball occupies its bottom position. The magnet M for controlling the ball 9 is constructed similarly to the magnet M and has a winding 28 and a movable core 38. Ball 9 controls a contact 23 by means of alever 35 pivoted at 36 and biased open by a spring 37 When the magnet M is energized the core 13 is drawn upward so that pin 13 strikes pin 15 driving the ball 8 upward through a guide tube 16 where it is deflected and returns by gravity on two rails 7 and 7. These rails are arranged to form an inclined chute which 7 .is here shown in the form of a spiral surrounding the tube 16 and secured thereto by suitable brackets '39. The lower ends of the rails 7 and 7 are insulated from the upper parts of the rails by means of insulating sections J and are enlarged to form a shallow cup, composed of two sections 41 and 41, respectively which are insulated from each other as shown at N in connection with the ball 9. The rails 10 and 10 associated with ball 9 are enlarged into cup sections 42 and 42*, respectively. Whenever the balls 8 and 9 occupy their .bottom positions, the cup sections 41 and 41 are bridged by the ball 8 and the sections 42 and 42" are bridged by the ball 9 so as to complete a circuit from the secondary 5 of transformer T to the track rails 1 and 1. This circuit is from the secondary 5 of transformer T through wire 6, cup section 41, ball 8, cup section 41, wire .11, cup section 42, ball 9, 42", wire 12, track rails 1 and 1, and wire 3-back to the secondary of the transformer. When this circuit is closed alternating current is constantly supplied to the track rails. The magnets M and M are controlled by means of two relays R and S which are connected across the track rails. The relay R has a back contact 18 which renders the magnets M and M approach-controlled while the relay S has a front contact 20 and a back contact 26. With relay R de-energized and front contact 20 of relay S closed the magnet M is energized over a circuit from one terminal B of a suitable source of current not shown in the drawing, back contact 18 of relay R, wire 19, front contact 20 of relay S, wire 21, winding 29 of magnet M wlres 22 and 30, contact 23, wire 24, contact 25 to terminal C of the source; The magnet M is controlled over a similar circuit including a back contact. 26 of the relay S.

.The circuit for the magnet M is from terminal B of the source through back contact 18 of relay R, wire 19, back contact 26015 relay S, wire 27, winding 28 of magnet M", wire 30, contact 23, wire 24 and contact 25 to the terminal 0 of the source. When the relay R is de-energized and the relay S is energized the magnet M becomes energized and projects the ball 8 upward through the guide tube 16. 'As soon as the ball 8 is raised the contact 25 included in the circuit for the magnet M is opened due to the action of spring 33 and remains open until the ball 8 returns to its bottom position. The ball 8 after reaching the top of tube 16 rolls downward under the influence of gravity over the rails 7 and 7" of the chute andafter a short time interval returns to its bottom position where it closes the contact 25 and again completes the..circuit from the secondary 5 of transformer T to the track rails. When relays R andS are simultaneously de-energized, the magnet M is energized to project the ball 9 upward through guide tube 17 and return it after a longer time interval.

' The code impulse combinations supplied to the trackway may be used to control any desired traflic governing apparatus, not shown in the drawing, in any suitable manner. t

When both balls 8 and 9 are in their bottom position and section DE is unoccupied alternating current is continuously supplied to the track rails 1 and 1 from the secondary 5 of transformer T. Relay R is energized so that contact 18 is open, and so therefore, no energy is supplied to the magnets M and M Contacts 23 and 25 are held'closed by the balls 9 and 8, respectively, and the movable cores 13 and 38 of magnets M and M respectively occupytheir bottom positions abutting stationary stops P.

If a train enters the section DE with traflic conditions ahead of this section such that relay S is energized tov close its front contact 20, the relay R becomes de-energize'd closing the contact 18 and completing the circuit for the magnet M Ball 8 is therefore projected upward through the guide tube 16 and after a short time interval returns to its bottom position over the rails 7 and 7. position the circuit from the secondary 5 of transformer T to the track-rails is inter- When the ball 8 leaves its bottom energizes magnet M When the ball 8 returns to its bottom position alternating current is again supplied to the track rails and contact 25 is-closed by the weight of the ball so that the magnet M is again energized to project the ball 8 upward. This sequence of operations is repeated as long as a train occupies the section DE and relay S remains energized. Under these conditions code impulse combinations consisting of short impulses of current separated by short intervals of time are supplied to the track rails.

I will now assume that a train occupies.

the section;DE so as to de-energize relay R and close its back contact 18, and also that traflic conditions ahead of this section are such as to cause relay S to be de-energized closing its back contact 26. The circuit is therefore closed for magnet M which becomes energized and projects the ball 9 upwardthrough the guide tube 17, and this interrupts the circuit for the track rails between the cup sections 42 and 42. Contact 23 is opened de-energizing magnet M as rupted between cup sections 41 and-41 and the opening of contact 25 by spring 33 deintervals will therefore be supplied to the track rails 1 and 1.

It will now be seen that I have provided .apparatus for supplying code impulse combinations separated by intervals which may be selectively controlled in accordance with trafiic conditions.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention it is understood that vvarious changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a plurality of inclined chutes, a movable member for each chute and adapted to travel thereon under the in fluence of gravity, means for returning each member to the top of the associated chute, means controlled by traflic conditions for selectively controlling the returning means, and contacting means controlled by each movable member.

2. In combination, a cup, a spherical member in said cup, a guide tube, a magnet beneath said cup and having .a movable core for projectin said spherical member to the top of the tu e, and an inclined chute for returning said member from the top of the tube to the cup.

3. In a code transmitter, the combination with a plurality of inclined chutes, of a spherical member associated with each chute, means for selectively projecting the spherical members upward in accordance with traflic conditions, and means adjacent the bottom of each chute and controlled by the associated spherical member for controlling the projectin means.

4. The com ination with a pair of conductors and means for supplying current thereto, of a spherical member for completing the circuit to the conductors, means controlled by traflic conditions for periodically projecting the spherical member upward through a predetermined distance and thereby interrupting the circuit, and means for returning the member to its starting point a predetermined interval of time following each of its upward movements.

5. The combination with a pair at conductors and means for supplying current there to, of a conducting ball for completing the circuit to the conductors, electromagnetic means controlled b traflic conditions for periodically projecting the ball upward to interrupt the circuit and means for returning the ball to its starting point a predetermined interval of time following its upward movement to again complete the circuit to the conductors.

6. A code transmitter comprising .a movable member, means for confining the motion of said member consisting of a substantially vertical guide tube and a spiral inclined chute connected with the upper and lower ends of the tube in such manner that when the member is projected upwardly through the tube it returns through the chute to the bottom of the tube, means operating each time said member reaches the bottom of the tube to project it upwardly through the tube whereupon it again returns through the chute to the bottom of the tube, and circuit controlling means actuated by said member at least once during each complete cycle of movement of the member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERBERT A. WALLACE. 

